qFLIX Philadelphia 2018 Sees More Changes; Marks 24 Years of Tradition Bringing LGBTQ+ Film and New Media to the Tri-State Region

Queer indie film returns to the region March 19-25, 2018, as qFLIX Philadelphia expands and relocates its spring international festival.

qFLIX Philadelphia 2018 marks 24 years of the tradition of bringing the latest and the best of LGBTQ+ film and new media by expanding this year’s festival to seven days, increasing the number of features, documentaries and shorts, focusing upon developments in new media, spotlighting locally-made student films, and including more guests, awards, talkbacks, discussions and hosting more special events.

While maintaining many aspects of the production, the new festival headquarters will be located at the historic Plays & Players Theatre, adjacent to Rittenhouse Square, in Center City.

The other venues will be the opening night gala premiere on Monday, March 19, at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, with the generosity of the Wyncote Foundation, and at the Connelly Auditorium at the University of the Arts, along the Avenue of the Arts.

“Celebrated within the LGBTQ+ film festival circuit, qFLIX Philadelphia strives to present a wide diversity of international and national independent films from across the globe as a way to retain its status as the greater Philadelphia region’s largest LGBTQ+ arts and cultural event, now boasting seven-days,” said producer James Duggan.

“Now that we’re producing the fifth edition of qFLIX Philadelphia, we’re pleased to expand the number of days and films, and move into new headquarters, working with another long-established arts nonprofit, and exploring ways to enhance the film viewing experience,” explained Duggan.

“This year’s programmers are consciously seeking to find undiscovered talent, the newest, youngest and alternative of LGBTQ+ voices and visions among the nation’s and the world’s filmmakers who have tackled a wide range of topics from the complexities of relationships to the more politicized side of the lives of all LGBTQ+ people in their struggle for acceptance, tolerance, freedom, equality and civil rights,” said head programmer and producer Thom Cardwell.

One major byproduct of the calendar change for qFLIX Philadelphia will directly impact the number of world, USA, and regional premieres as well as an increase in the number of guests, including filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, producers, and others since qFLIX Philadelphia takes place before Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles that are all always vying for the same talent and films in competition.

“Festival guests will be able to stay longer and enjoy the wonders of Philadelphia instead of merely staying overnight, then back on the plane to make their appearance at Outfest Los Angeles when we used to be scheduled in July,” explained co-producer, Bill Egan.

qFLIX Philadelphia is a production of qFLIX USA, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation.